1879.] _ Anthropology. 327 
observed the change, but from his observation he thought it 
occurred during the breeding season 
he specimens found on the prairie region flanking the Yellow- 
stone river, were very light in color; those from the Bad Lands 
somewhat darker, while those obtained near, and on the Mussel- 
shell river were extremely dark, and one specimen was nearly 
black. In this individual the abdomen was darker than the backs 
of the specimens from the prairie districts. The abdominal 
scales were densely covered with black spray, sufficiently so as 
to give some of them a uniform color 
Dr. Yarrow! and Mr. Henshaw both say the coloration of the 
animal depends greatly upon the color of the soil where found, 
and this has been the result of my observations in Dakota and 
Montana, as well as in Arizona apong other species of the same 
genus 
Dr. iow: in speaking of the time that these reptiles may be 
kept alive without food, says he has never been able tọ keep them 
alive over four months. Of the total number collected , in 1873, 
times during the winter of 1873-4, I placed them near the heater 
to revive them temporarily for the purpose of showing them to 
inquisitive visitors ; still this did not apparently affect them. In 
May, 1874, I place ed them in the garden, and soon after being 
exposed to the sun they showed signs of exhaustion, difficulty of 
respiration, and finally died. They were considerably emaciated, 
and probably the state of debility, in addition to a humid atmos- 
phere and aioe exposure to the hot rays of*the sun was too 
much for them.—W. F. Hoffman, M.D. 
ANTHROPOLOGY.’ 
PERFORATED SkKuLts.—Rev. Stephen Bowers, Ph.D., recently 
discovered a burial place near Santa Barbara. Cal., which he 
"i mea in part. It yielded thirty or forty skeletons, serpentine 
wls,a pipe, arrow-head, shell and bone ornaments, beads, etc. But 
E 
the most singular feature was a nest of six skulls entirely sepa- 
made at death. He found pres aaa. skulls in the 
cemeteries, but they were in too friable a condition for ibere 
vation 
-ETHNOLOGY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNI A—Dr. Bow spent 
several months during the year 1878 in-ethnological eaplotatons 
1 ye LERH gre and Geog. Survey, IV, 1878, p. 286. * 
s * Et whee Prot Oris T. Er ae. College, Washington, D. C. 
* 
